What to do in the garden in November?

Published on 4 November 2018

The first whisper of winter’s cold is on the breeze, but not to worry: November is a month of cosy indulgences from bonfires and flame-coloured trees to the rich flavours of the autumn harvest. And you can always warm yourself up with a few jobs to be done this month in the garden!

General tasks:

Create shelter for wildlife as hedgehogs, frogs and toads rely on finding hideyholes to overwinter. A stack of logs will do; or you can invest in a bespoke wildlife hotel for five star accommodation.

Bring tender plants in under cover before frosts start to bite; pot up tender perennials like Mexican salvias and pelargoniums and bring them in to a frost-free greenhouse or conservatory.

Ornamental gardens

Plant ornamental crabapple trees for a gorgeous display in spring and summer as well as pretty fruit. They make delightful small trees for more compact gardens, reaching just 3-4m tall

Plant tulips in generous swathes for brilliant colour next spring. Throw your tulip bulbs on the ground randomly to give a more natural effect, and plant where they fall 8-10cm deep.

Prune dead wood from trees and shrubs as well as any diseased or damaged wood to tidy them up before winter sets in.

Kitchen garden:

Plant garlic as it needs a spell of frost to break bulbs into fat, aromatic cloves. Choose your favourite varieties from the garden centre, then break your seed garlic into cloves and plant 15cm apart.

Plant rhubarb crowns in soil that’s been generously improved with organic matter such as well-rotted manure or garden compost, making sure the central bud is above soil level to prevent rotting.

Check stored fruit and vegetables every few weeks to make sure none are starting to rot; if you find any, remove them straight away to eat immediately.